Animated operator for electrical switches

ABSTRACT

An animated operator for use with an electrical switch of the lever type in which the switch lever may be operated from a distant position while causing a corresponding animated movement to be performed by the operator.

A United States Patent Roberts et al. 1

[541 ANIMATED OPERATOR Iron ELECTRICAL SWITCHES [75] Inventors: Stuart J. Roberts, Denville, N..l.;

Harold Rosenbaum, 29 Brittany Rd.,

Montville, NJ. 07045; Sol Inspector, 59 Fairfield Ave., West Caldwell, NJ. 07006 [73] Assignee: said Rosenbaum and Inspector, by

I said Roberts [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,068

[52] US. Cl 200/172 A, D8/183, D26/13 B [51] Int. Cl. H01h 3/02 [58] Field of Search 200/172 A; 74/544; D8/181, D8/182, 183; D26/l3 B [56] I 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,220 11/1945 Tredeau ..200/172A 1 July 23, 1974 10/1951 Coles ..L v. 200/172 A 2,582,379 1/1952 Goldberg t 7. 200/172 A 2,712,582 7/1955 Peretti 200/172 A 2,775,674 12/1956 Meder 200/172 A D166,88l 5/1952 Russell D26/l3 Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bauer & Amer 57 ABSTRACT An animated operator for use with an electrical switch of the lever type in which the switch lever may be operated from a distant position while causing a corresponding animated movement to be performed by the operator.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUL 23 m4 3.825.710

sum 10: 2

ANIMATED OPERATOR FOR ELECTRICAL I YSWI'ICHES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrical toggle switches of the lever type generally are mounted within a wall usually adacent to the door opening such that when an individual enters or leaves the room, he may conveniently operate the switch on or off by raising or lowering the switch lever. Unfortunately, little account is made for children in the initial placement of the switch for it is usually mounted at a height that is generally made accessible to adults only. Thus, small shildren are left with no access to the light switch except by using chairs and other improvised ladder structures that have been known to be unsteady and often topple, incurring great injuryto the child.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an operator for electrical toggle switches. The desideratum of the invention is to provide a switch operator that may be provided distant from the switch and preferably at a height accessible to small children. It further contemplates the operation of a figure or a design'that performs a given animated movement for a corresponding operation of the switch, thereby providing a desirable and attractive attachment to the switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch operator having a plurality of parts that are actuated to perform relative movements in response to the operation of the switch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a switch operator that may be conveniently applied to any toggle switch to cover and insulate the same from the person using it; one that may be-operated by adults as wellas children; one that is attractive, novel in appearance, relatively inexpensive, easily packaged and fun to use.

Examples of prior art electrical switch operators may be found in' the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,582,379, 3,581,037, 3,188,439, 3,175,420, 2,493,581 and 3,004,128. r

The above description, as well. as further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, will be more fullyappreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an animated operator for an electrical switch constructed according to the teaching of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 with ken away;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the animated operator with the parts thereof longitudinally separated;

parts thereof bro- 2- form in FIGS. 1 and 2. For ease of explanation and understanding the present invention, the composite figure 12, is shown in the form of an animal, more particularly a squirrel, supporting in its forelegs or hands 14 a peanut 16 which will appear to insert and withdraw from its mouth as though it were eating the same when the light switch is actuated on and off.

The use of an animal and, more particularly, the

' squirrel figure l2 shouldnot be deemed to be limiting upon the scope of the invention. It is within the scope of the present invention to utilize any other figure, whether the same be an animal, a human form or some other non-living form, it being sufficient for the purposes of this'invention to note that some type of animation or movement is effected and some attractive articulation is produced during the manipulation or operation of the switch to which the present operator 10 is adapted to be fastened. Hence, those skilled in the art will recognize that the illustration of the squirrel is merely for explanatory purposes only and should not be limitingupon the scope of this invention.

The figure 12 includes a plurality of moving parts here shown as two in number. Once again it will be rec- 18 and .20 with the part 18 constituting the actuated portion of the operator whilethe part 20 may be a stationary portion of the operator 10. Both of the parts 18 and 20 are adapted to be'relatively movable to each other and whether it is the part 18 that is actuated with respect to the part 20 or vice versa is actually immaterial insofar as the scope of the invention is concerned. It will become clear as the description proceeds that for the purposes of the invention the parts are caused to move relative to each other by anoperable actuator 22 that is connected to at least one of the plurality of parts. In the present disclosure and for convenience of operation, the part 22 constitutes an elongated extension of and formed integraland unitary with the portion 18.

The extension 22 may be provided with a protrusion or projection 24 that may be conveniently grasped in the dark by a child so as to enable the manipulation of the animated operator 10'and the switch to which the same. is adapted to be fastenedThe length of the extension 22 and the position of the protrusion 24 thereon may be such as to be positioned distant from the switch FIG. 4 is a cross-section of FIG. 3 taken along lines 4--4, and 1 FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the animated operator illustrating its application to a toggle switch plate and lever.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION placing it within convenient reach of a child thereby obviating the need of the child to mount upon any stool, ladder or other raised support in order to reach the same. Hence, the extent of the elongation 22 is a matter of choice. I

Each of the relatively movable parts 18 and 20 of the composite figure 12 is provided with interengaging means so as to direct the relative movement of such parts 18 and 20 with respect to each other. In the present invention the relative movement of such parts is directed vertically upon the verticalreciprocation of the actuator 22anywhere along its length, including at the protrusion 24. However, as the description proceeds, it

should be clear that the actuator 22 need not depend parts thereof need not necessarily be moved vertically with respect to each other, but rather, the parts thereof 8 may have any desired directional movement and thus if more than two parts are utilized, many of the parts may have movements in various directions depending upon the animated movements that the figure 12 is desired to perform.

However, for the purpose of understanding the present invention, the upper part is provided at the rear surface thereof with a pair of laterally spaced tracks 26 which are formed in the rear portion of the part 20. The lengthwise extent of the tracks 26 is sufficient to cooperate with a further pair of lengthwise extending laterally spaced tracks 28 provided on the outer surface of the lower portion 18, and for convenience of recognition, proximate the location of the peanut 16. The relative spacing of the tracks 28 is such as to engage along the outer opposite surfaces of the relatively spaced tracks 26 provided in the upper part 20. Thus, the two parts 18 and 20 are guided for relative vertical movement with respect to each other. However, as previously noted, if the tracks are directed in a different manner other than vertical, the relative movement between the two parts will correspond to the direction of such interengaging tracks.

Defined in the upper part 20 is a boss 30 which functions as a positioning projection directed rearwardly from the front of the part 20 toward the rear surface 1 thereof. The boss 30 may be circular in shape such as is illustrated in FIG. 3 and is adapted to fit within a guiding, interengaging elongated slot or opening 32 defined in the lower part 18. The dimension of the slot 32 in itslateral direction is sufficient to guide the move-' ment of the lower part 18 with respectto the projection or boss 30 so that in cooperation with the tracks 26 and 28, the lower part,18 is doubly interengaged with the upper part 20.

Also provided within the confines of the lower part 18 is a further opening or hole 34 sized and shaped to accommodate the lever 36 illustrated in broken lines in F I68. 2 and 3 of a conventional electrical toggle switch (not shown) that is normally covered by a switch plate 38 held to the. toggle switchv that is secured with an electrical housing by upper and lower-screws or fastening means 40.

In order to place the present animated operator in use in connection with the switch that is mounted behind the switch plate cover 38, one of the fastening means or screws 40 may be removed therefrom and passed through the front of the part 20 through the hole of the boss or projection 30 thereof and to extend through the elongated slot -or opening 32 of the other part 18. When so arranged, the boss or projection 30 is adapted to extend into the confines of the slot 32 and the tracks 26 on the rear surface thereof and becomes positioned between and in interengaging relationship with the forwardly projecting laterally spaced tracks 28 on the lower part 18. In this way, the two parts 18 and 20 are easily assembled together for relative movement with respect to each other.

The fastening means 40 is then placed right back into its prior receiving opening in the front plate 38 and then screwed into place within the receiving screw hole defined in the switch mounted to the wall behind the switch plate cover 38. Thus, the same fastening means 40 previously utilized to hold the switch plate cover 38 to the switch behind it is now utilized to retain the plurality of parts of the figure 12 in assembled relationship for relative movement with respect to each other. The fastening means thus extends through each of the parts of the figure 12 and thereby positions the same with respect to the cover plate 38.

As a consequence, the two parts 18 and 20 fully cover the switch plate 38 and define a new cover for the toggle switch of which the lever 36 forms a part and projects therefrom. If this is desired, the old switch plate cover may be removed and discarded. However, in practice it is recognized that the switch plate cover 38 will be left in place so as to provide double insurance against contact with the electrical switch therebehind.

In order to more completely cover the switch plate 38, the rear surface of the upper portion 20 of the figure 12 is extended further rearwardly of the tracks 26 such as indicated at 42. This extension 42 will encompass part of the upper portion of the switch plate cover 38 so as to prevent the accumulation of dust and other dirt articles from falling behind and between it and the switch plate cover 38. The ease of assembly of the present animated operator 10 to the switch plate cover and to the toggle switch therebehind also anticipates the ease of positioning the lever opening 34 directly over and into engagement with the extended toggle switch lever 36. Hence, when once the fastening means 40 is threaded into the toggle switch behind the plate 38, the

toggle lever 36 is automatically positioned within the toggle lever opening 34 in the lower portion 18. Thus, no cumbersome positioning is required.

In operation, it is merely necessary for a child to operatethe switch toggle lever 36 from a remote or distant position by moving the actuator 22 either at the protrusion 24 or anywhere along the lengthwise extent of the actuator 22. Because the fastening means 40 extends through the boss 30 of the upper part 20, the same is held in place with respect to the switch plate 38. However, the lower part 18 is permitted to be actuated in accordance with the direction of movement of the actuator 22. The movement of the part 18 is guided in accordance with the engagement of the tracks 26 and 28 and the boss 30 within the slot 32. Since these track interengaging means are directed vertically, the lower part 18 moves vertically up and down and thus causes the lower portion of the body animated figure 12 to move up and down with respect to the head 20.

As a consequence, the present configuration of the figure 12 makes it appear that the peanut 16 is caused to enter into the mouth-like aperture 44 of the part 20 when the switch lever 36 is raised and the peanut l6 appears to be removed from the mouth of the upper part 20 when the switch lever 36 is lowered. It should be apparent to those who are skilled inthe art that any portion of the present figure 12 may be made luminous so that the corresponding movements of the lever 36 may produce a corresponding movement in the figure 12 that will be attractive to a child and also attractive to use on the wall.

The present invention may be easily packaged by placing the whole of the figure 12 on a card with a screw passing through the boss 30 and through the slot 32 into the card so as to hold the figure 12 in its assembled condition such as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 while permitting the extension 12 to extend beyond the package and thereby enabling the purchaser of the animated operator to operate the figure 12 from the actuator 22 that will extend beyond the envelopment containing the figure 12 on the package. Hence, the present invention not only provides for a very simple and attractive as well as a decorative article, but also lends itself to being packaged attractively for purchase and use prior to purchase so that the customer may clearly see what he or she is purchasing.

From the views illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the present invention may be constructed from a molded plastic that is relatively inexpensive, light in weight and easily manufactured. Significantly, any desired combination of movements between the parts may be accomplished simply by varying the angular relationship of the interengaging tracks 26 and 28 and the relationship between the boss 30 and the slot 32 in which the same operates. The present construction also insures against the possible accidental disassembly of the parts from each other by fastening the same together and to the toggle switch behind the switch plate cover 38 by means of the fastening means 40.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various'omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, .to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: 1. In an animated operator foran electrical switch of the toggle type, an animated figure including a plurality of parts independent of the switch plate and switch and adapted to be mounted to theelectrical switch, said parts being movable relative to each other,

interengaging track means on said parts to direct their relative movements in'response to the actuation of one of said parts relative to the other,

means on said parts through which a fastening means may extend to join said parts together and to the electrical switch to which the same are mounted,

an actuator connected with one of said parts to actuate the same to cause said parts to move relative to each other along said interengaging track means,

and animation means on said parts producing an animated movement of said figure when said parts move relative to each other.

2. In an animated operator as in claim 1,

means on said actuated part to engage with a toggle of an electrical switch to operate the toggle and the electrical switch,

and a fastening means mounting; said animated figure to electrical switch.

3. In an animated operator as in claim 2,

said parts being movable relative to each other in the direction of movement of the operator of the electrical switch.

4. In an animated operator as in claim 2,

one of said parts having a portion thereof overlying a portion of the other of said parts when said parts are moved relative to each other in separation and overlying each other to a different extent when said parts are moved closer relative to each other.

5. In an animated operator as in claim 2,

said actuator extending distant from said one part to enable the operation of a toggle switch from a distant position.

6. An animated operator independent of and for application to an electrical toggle switch and plate having a toggle lever and a fastener receiving opening,

said operator comprising a plurality of parts defining an animated figure,

each of said parts having interrelated animated configurations thereon to produce an animated move ment between said parts in response to the movement of one of said parts relative to the other,

, actuator means operable on said figure to cause one of said parts to move relative to the other,

means on said one part engageable with the lever such that during the movement of said one part the lever will operate the switch and the interrelated animated configurations will perform a corre sponding animated movement,

means on said parts to position the same to define said animated figure and to enable a fastening means to extend therethrough and into engagement with the fastener receiver of the toggle switch to mount said figure to the toggle switch.

7. In an animated operator as in claim 6,

interengaging means on said parts including track means to guide said parts to perform their animated movements in response to the operation of said actuator means.

8. An animated operator as in claim 7,

said positioning means comprising an enlarged projection on one of said parts and extending through said opening,

and said projection having an opening through which a fastening means may extend into engagement with the fastener receiver of the toggle switch.

9. An animated operator as in claim 8,

said actuator means being an elongated arm to enable the operation of the switch lever from a distant position. 

1. In an animated operator for an electrical switch of the toggle type, an animated figure including a plurality of parts independent of the switch plate and switch and adapted to be mounted to the electrical switch, said parts being movable relative to each other, interengaging track means on said parts to direct their relative movements in response to the actuation of one of said parts relative to the other, means on said parts through which a fastening means may extend to join said parts together and to the electrical switch to which the same are mounted, an actuator connected with one of said parts to actuate the same to cause said parts to move relative to each other along said interengaging track means, and animation means on said parts producing an animated movement of said figure when said parts move relative to each other.
 2. In an animated operator as in claim 1, means on said actuated part to engage with a toggle of an electrical switch to operate the toggle and the electrical switch, and a fastening means mounting said animated figure to electrical switch.
 3. In an animated operator as in claim 2, said parts being movable relative to each other in the direction of movement of the operator of the electrical switch.
 4. In an animated operator as in claim 2, one of said parts having a portion thereof overlying a portion of the other of said parts when said parts are moved relative to each other in separation and overlying each other to a different extent when said parts are moved closer relative to each other.
 5. In an animated operator as in claim 2, said actuator extending distant from said one part to enable the operation of a toggle switch from a distant position.
 6. An animated operator independent of and for application to an electrical toggle switch and plate having a toggle lever and a fastener receiving opening, said operator comprising a plurality of parts defining an animated figure, each of said parts having interrelated animated configurations thereon to produce an animated movement between said parts in response to the movement of one of said parts relative to the other, actuator means operable on said figure to cause one of said parts to move relative to the other, means on said one part engageable with the lever such that during the movement of said one part the lever will operate the switch and the interrelated animated configurations will perform a corresponding animated movement, means on said parts to position the same to define said animated figure and to enable a fastening means to extend therethrough and into engagement with the fastener receiver of the toggle switch to mount said figure to the toggle switch.
 7. In an animated operator as in claim 6, interengaging means on said parts including track means to guide said parts to perform their animated movements in response to the operation of said actuator means.
 8. An animated operator as in claim 7, said positioning means comprising an enlarged projection on one of said parts and extending through said opening, and said projection having an opening through which a fastening means may extend into engagement with the fastener receiver of the toggle switch.
 9. An animated operator as in claim 8, said actuator means being an elongated arm to enable the operation of the switch lever from a distant position. 